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Barbarian Press

Mission, British Columbia

Proprietors
Press Profile
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Wood engraving of a bear
Wood engraving by Simon Brett, for Barbarian Press
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Proprietors

Jan Elsted is a native of Vancouver, British Columbia. She completed her master's in English at the University of British Columbia and since 1978 has worked continuously as the printer at Barbarian Press.

Photograph of Jan Elsted printing on the 1850 Albion press   Photograph of Crispin Elsted dissing type
Jan Elsted printing on the 1850 Albion press
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  Crispin Elsted at work: dissing type
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Crispin Elsted was born in Vancouver in 1947 and holds a master's in English from UBC. He is a poet, essayist and lecturer. His recent book of poetry Climate and Affections: Poems 1970-1995, was shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award.

Press Profile

After completing their respective graduate work, the Elsteds travelled to Europe in 1976. While there, they met Graham Williams of the Florin Press in East Sutton, England. They approached him with what they thought was a reasonable request. Could he set and print a small book they planned to present as an anniversary gift in about ten days? Williams agreed, under the condition that he could put Jan and Crispin to work. After ten days (and nights), under the guidance of their new teacher and mentor, the book was completed and the Elsteds' futures turned in a new direction.

Jan and Crispin set out to find a press of their own and bought two presses and a quantity of type, which they had shipped home to Canada. There, "it quickly evolved that Jan was happiest in the pressroom, pulling presses, inking, & expending her seemingly endless patience on the minute exactitudes of make-ready and impression. Fortunately, my choice was typesetting & design, so that we settled quite early into a usual & agreeable division of labour".1

Jan explains the appeal that printing held for her. "I learned a little of patience then, and the beauty of hands. [...] I began to understand the difference between monotony and rhythm, and that rhythm is a function of hand and mind working in conjunction, not as separate & often conflicting parts of one body. [...] We discovered the rhythm which comes from living with nature, rather than with man-made things; and we found a craft, a work to do with the hands, that provides a link between natural rhythms and intellect." 2

Since its early beginnings the Barbarian Press shop has grown to include nine presses: the Albion (1850), the Barrett Albion (1833) and the Sherwin & Cope Imperial (1854), two Chandler & Price platen presses, a Vandercook Universal #1, a Kelly B cylinder press and two Adana table top presses. (For more information on printing presses, see "Letterpress Printing Technology.")

Barbarian Press publications range from new translations of poetry and prose, Victorian melodrama, and new poetry to bibliography, illustrated classics, and books on wood engraving. Their website can be found at www.barbarianpress.com.


1. Crispin Elsted. "Ab Incunabilis: A Short History." Utile Dulci: The First Decade at Barbarian Press 1977-1987. Page 8

2. Jan Elsted. "Printing: Night and Morning." Utile Dulci: The First Decade at Barbarian Press 1977-1987. Page [43]


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